Week 4 Wednesday
Jacob's vision at Bethel gives us a wonderful picture of worshipful surrender, David paints a picture of God's might and power, and Jesus sends His disciples out before feeding a great crowd with a few loaves and fish.
Genesis 28
📖 What are we reading?: Jacob has a vision at Bethel, in which God appears to him to assure him of His promise of blessing and protection, prompting a wonderful worshipful response from Jacob in which he promises his loyalty.
✞ What does this passage say about God?: He meets Jacob in the middle of nowhere, on the run and utterly alone, and renews to him the very same promise He gave Abraham and Isaac. His presence is not confined to temples or "holy places" - He goes with us wherever we are.
🛐 How does this passage teach us to live?: Jacob's response to God's promise is worship and a vow of loyalty. When we recognise that God is with us, our response should be the same - worship, and a fresh commitment to walk in His ways.
Looking for some extra info?
➡️ The bigger picture: Genesis, meaning "beginnings", was written by Moses around 1400 BC, and covers the story of creation, the fall, and the origins of God's chosen people, Israel.
📝 The story behind the classic hymn this passage inspired, and how it references this passage in an unusual way.
Psalm 18:1-24
📖 What are we reading?: Let’s tackle the first half of this long Psalm today. David paints a great picture of God's might and power, and then claims that his own integrity has resulted in blessings from God.
✞ What does this passage say about God?: He is our rock, our fortress, and our deliverer - the one who reaches down from on high and rescues us from those too strong for us.
🛐 How does this passage teach us to live?: David's confidence in God's might is matched by his commitment to a life of integrity before Him. Both belong together in a life of faith.
Looking for some extra info?
➡️ The bigger picture: The Psalms is a collection of 150 poems and songs, written by David and others, expressing the full range of human emotion in response to God and to life.
📝 A week of daily devotions based on Psalm 18.
Luke 9:1-17
📖 What are we reading?: Jesus sends His disciples out to preach and heal, as He did the twelve. We then read of His miraculous feeding of the five thousand with just five loaves and two fish.
✞ What does this passage say about God?: He equips ordinary people with power and authority for His work, and He multiplies whatever little we bring Him to meet the needs of many.
🛐 How does this passage teach us to live?: Jesus sends us out, just as He did the twelve - we are not meant to keep the good news to ourselves. And when we bring Him what little we have, even five loaves and two fish, He can make it more than enough.
Looking for some extra info?
➡️ The bigger picture: Luke's Gospel was written by Luke, a Greek physician and companion of Paul, around AD 60-62. It is the most detailed account of Jesus' life, and is especially attentive to the poor, to women, and to outcasts.
A Prayer for the Day
🙏 Lord, thank You that You meet us wherever we are, and that You renew Your promises to us just as You did for Jacob. You are our rock and our fortress, and You equip us for Your work and multiply what little we bring You. May our response, like Jacob's, always be worship and renewed loyalty to You. Amen.
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